CORNS IN Horses

Corns
Bruise of the sole at the back of the hoof at the angle between the wall and the bars
Improper shoeing or poor hoof trimming A “corn” is most common in the forefeet on the inner buttress and can be caused by 

Corns are described as dry (only mild bruising), moist (serous exudate present), or suppurative (infected or abscessed). Bruising may be associated with lameness, depending on the severity. When the foot is raised and the solar surface freed of dirt and loose horn, a discoloration, either red or reddish yellow, may be noted. Pressure on the affected area with hoof testers usually causes varying degrees of discomfort, again depending on the severity of the lesion.

CAUSES

- Yellow or red discoloration of the sole, usually on the front feet 

- Possible lameness 

- Soreness of the area when using a hoof tester

- Area of corn may become abscessed

TREATMENT

- Consult your veterinarian

- Corrective trimming 

- Shoeing to protect and transfer weight from the bruised area 

- Draining of the area if there is an abscess

PREVENTION 

- Proper hoof trimming and shoeing

Navicular Syndrome

Navicular Syndrome

Inflammation and degeneration of the navicular bone and surrounding tissues. 
Navicular disease is one of the most common causes of chronic forelimb lameness in the athletic horse but is essentially unknown in ponies and donkeys
This disease begins with inflammation and gradually results in deterioration of the bony tissue of the navicular bone.

CAUSES

- Genetics and poor conformation 

- Improper nutrition 

- Continual impact of the toe on hard surfaces

SIGNS

- Intermittent lameness that tends to get worse over time 

- Toe will become worn as it hits the ground before the heel 

- Usually affects front feet

TREATMENT

- Consult your veterinarian

- Proper trimming and shoeing 

- Medications to increase circulation and decrease pain 

- Surgery may be necessary

PREVENTIONS

- Proper breeding 

- Proper shoeing 

- Adequate exercise, avoiding athletic stress

Cracks

Cracks

Symptoms:
A crack in the hoof wall originating at the coronary band is known as a quarter crack when it occurs on the side--or quarters--of the hoof. Toe cracks may also occur, but are less common. These cracks typically begin on the inside of the hoof, where they are not visible, and become obvious when the crack reaches the surface of the hoof wall. Affected horses will not always be lame, but if the area becomes infected, it can cause severe pain.

Causes:
Cracks can be caused by trauma to the coronary band or heavy concussion, such as work on hard surfaces. Horses with weak or thin hoof walls are more prone to quarter cracks. Poor hoof conformation or an improper trim—especially long toes and underrun heels--can also lead to cracks. Quarter cracks can affect any breed of horse in any sport, but tend to be more common in race horses.

Treatment:
If the hoof is infected, your vet will open the crack to disinfect the area and remove any dead tissue, if necessary. In some cases, the vet will repair the crack using screws, staples, or wire lacing. The horse will usually require special shoeing to relieve pressure while the crack heals and begins to grow out. In most cases, your vet will cover the crack with an acrylic patch to reinforce the repair.

Abscess in horses

Abscess

Symptoms:
Abscesses in the hoof are typically characterized by sudden-onset, severe lameness. In some cases, the horse may refuse to put any weight at all on the affected hoof. The horse will be sensitive in the area of the abscess and may have an increased digital pulse and swelling in the lower leg.

A vet or farrier can pare away the hoof to reveal and drain the abscess, confirming the diagnosis. If left untreated, the abscess may erupt on its own through the sole of the hoof or at the coronary band.

Causes:
A hoof abscess is a pocket of infection in the lamina. It can start with a puncture wound caused by the horse stepping on a sharp object in the barn aisle, or a misplaced horse shoe nail. The hole allows bacteria to enter the hoof, where it thrives in the warm, dark environment. While the bacteria eat away at the hoof tissue, the horse's immune system attacks. The resulting pocket of bacteria, white blood cells, and dead hoof tissue puts pressure on the sensitive structures of the horse's hoof, causing the pain response.

Treatment:
Once the vet has located and drained the abscess, the key is to keep the area clean to avoid reinfection. The hoof should be soaked in a solution of Epsom salts in warm water to help draw out any remaining infection. The hoof should be kept bandaged until it has healed. A vet may suggest an anti-inflammatory, such as Bute, to manage the horse's pain. The recovery period is typically no more than a week to ten days, but this can vary widely depending on the severity of the abscess and the owner's ability to prevent reinfection.

Interference in horses

 Forging is a common fault in horses working in fast tempo in any of the three gaits. It usually refers to a hind leg hitting (catching) the front leg of the same side. At the walk it is commonly referred to as over reaching, which in most cases involves the hind toe of the shoe striking the front toe of the shoe, hence you can hear it; rarely the horse grabs the heel part of the front shoe at the walk. During forging, the wounds, which some call the "treads", are caused mainly to the lower part of the front leg by the over reaching hind leg. 

“Brushing” refers to contact between opposite (right and left) fore or hind limbs. This most commonly takes place in the lower limb, pastern or fetlock and rarely above the fetlock. Brushing happens as a consequence of a lateral gait deficit, meaning something affecting side-to-side movement of the limbs in flight

“Over-reaching” or “grabbing” is a type of forging in which the toe of the hind foot contacts the lower forelimb on the same side, usually causing a heel bulb wound or catching the heel of the shoe.

“Scalping” refers to contact with the coronet band,  “speedicutting” refers to a strike to the fetlock area, “shin hitting” to the cannon area and “hock hitting’ to the hock region.

Nail prick

Nail prick /Quicking is the condition in which there is penetration of nail through sensitive laminae of the hoof during faulty shoeing. So competant farrier is required.

Symptoms

• Pain evinced when hoof tester is placed over hoof.
• Lameness
• Unable to put weight on affected limbs.

Causes

• Faulty shoeing

Prevention

• Careful horse shoeing is the best way to prevent nail prick.
• Regular foot checkup

Treatment

• Horse shoe should be removed and pus is drained from abcess.
• The nail prick area should be throughly cleanead and iodine should be used for flushing of the wound.
• Tetanus toxoid vaccination should be given to prevent tetanus.
• Hot poultice is recommended for ripening of abcess.
• NSAIDS should be given to control pain and swelling.
• Nutrition supplements such as biotin, zinc and methionine may help the growth of hoof.

Pyramidal Disease (Buttress Foot)

• Pyramidal Disease (Buttress Foot)
• Pyramidal disease, also called buttress foot, involves inflammation of the covering of connective tissue that surrounds the coffin bone.
• The disease may arise after trauma or from a separating fracture caused by excess tension on the tendon.
• Secondary arthritis is a likely complication. In early stages, the area will be hot and painful. 
• The toe region above the coronet usually enlarges, creating the “buttress foot” appearance.
• There is no specific treatment for pyramidal disease.
• Anti-inflammatory medication given by mouth or injection may be beneficial.
• Corrective shoeing can help minimize lameness.
• Surgery has been successful for the separating fractures.

Curb in horses

Curb is a thickening of the plantar tarsal ligament. This is short ligament that starts just below the point of the hock and run down to the head of the cannon bone.

When strained or injured , it ruptures along with surrounding blood vessels.

Causes

• Excessive work
• Falling
• Slipping
• Kicking
• Strain can come from overexertion when jumping or pulling
• Poor conformation
• Cow hock -leg points outward due to irregularly set back knees
• Sickle hock -Irregular angled hock

Signs

Enlargement below the point of the hock

Inflammation and lameness

Affected areas becomes warmth

The horse stands with the leg at rest and the heel elevated to reduce tension on the ligament

Treatment

Anti inflammatory can be given to reduce the pain and swelling.

Cold therapy can be given and complete rest is needed for at least one month.

Reference

Horsemans veterinary encyclopedia by Cheryl Rogers and G.Jeanne wilcox

Capped elbow in horses

Capped elbow or shoe boil is a soft swelling over the point of the elbow due to trauma


Causes

• The shoe hitting against the elbow of the same limb while the horse is being exercised
  
• The horse hitting himself in stamping his foot.
  
• The horse being stabled with insufficient beddings.

Treatment

• First the cause must be determined and removed
  
• Then if is infected capped elbow antibiotics course is required.
  
• Surgical removal of this conditions is good.
  
• Serous fluid should be drained out and inject corticosteroids.

Prevention

• A plenty of bedding must be applied.
  
• A leather shoe is beneficial in preventing the iron shoe to come in contact with the elbow.
• The use of a special pad which adapts itself of the elbow in the standing and recumbent positions.

References

Horseman’s veterinary Encyclopaedia by Cheryl Rogers and Jeanne Wilcox

Flip-over injuries

Flip over injuries occur when a horse Flips over backward and injures its back,neck, or head.

This is common injury in young horses, especially when they are first taught to tie.

It also occurs during trailering, particularly when loading or unloading a nervous ir unwilling horse.

The common denominators in most flip-over injuries are

1.Force-the horse either pulls back hard against the object to which it is tied, or it runs backward quickly.

2.Insufficient traction -a slippery surface and steel or aluminum shoes.
A horse may damage any part of its neck or back when it flips over .

• Injury to the tail base
• Injury to the rump or withers
• Injury to the poll
• Whiplash injury

Whiplash Injury

• If the horse's head is securely tied with a fairly short lead or cross ties, and the driver accelerates rapidly,the horse's hindfeet can slip forward underneath it.
• The horse may be thrown back onto its hock or buttocks.
• This has a reverse whiplash effect on the vertebrae in the thoraco lumbar area.
• The spine is suddenly wrenched into overextension,and the supporting intervertebral ligaments may be strained or torn.
• It leads to intervetebral disc damage.

Treatments

• A few weeks of rest is essential to avoid further damage
• Antiinflamatory is indicated if severe pain persists.
• Physical therapies such as magneto pulse therapy,massage,heat therapy

Daily hand walking or pasture turnout can help relieve the muscle spasms surrounding the damaged vertebrae.

complete stall confinement can result in fibrosis around the damaged intervertebral joints.

Flip-over or pull-back injuries can be prevented by taking care when tying and transporting horses, especially if they are young,inexperienced or nervous.

Reference

Lameness

Equine Research

Christine King and Richard Mansmann

EPIPYSITIS

Epiphysitis / Big knees/ knock knees

Inflamation of growth plate of the long bones,primarily found in the lower end of the radius above the knee.
The epiphysial area closes at 24 -27 months of age.Commonly seen in foals and weanlings from 4 to 5 months of age
Some cases found in Throughbred yearlings during early phases of training

CAUSES 

• Excessive pressure on unclosed plates
• Diet balance in foals
• Bacterial infections(Joint ill)
• Concussion in young Race horses

SIGNS

• Enlargement of knee joints
• Pain on palpation
• Lameness

TREATMENTS

• Caused by excess carbohydrate diet.Therefore decreasing the energy intake is of use in treatment.
• Malnutrition or vitamin or mineral deficiency
• Correction of calcium deficiency.
• Then proper diet and rest may be all that is needed to correct the problems
• Periosteal stripping surgical procedure to correct the epiphysitis

Reference

• Horseman veterinary Encyclopedia Cheryl Rogers and G.Jeanne Wilcox
• Manual of Equine Practice by Reuben J.Rose and David R.Hodgson

WIND PUFFS IN HORSES

Wind puffs are distension overfilling of the synovial sheath between the suspensory ligaments and the cannon bone.

CAUSES

• Heavy work
• Full training and suddenly does not get any exercise
• Young horses-poor nutrition

SIGNS

• Joint capsule distension
• Fluid swelling in the area of the fetlock 

TREATMENT

• Reduce the work
• Drainage of excess synovial fluid
• Elastic wrap after injection may be used
• Drainage the joint capsule and injecting a corticosteroid may provide temporary benefit.
• If it is due to inadequate nutrition the ration should be adjusted according to nutrient needs of animals

Reference

Horseman veterinary Encyclopedia
Cheryl Rogers and G.Jeanne Wilcox

KISSING SPINE IN HORSES

• The signs of back pain in a horse can be wide ranging, and unfortunately for the horse they are often ignored.
• A horse that steps away when approached with the saddle, swishes its tail, is ‘girthy’ or exhibits other signs of reluctance or sourness prior to riding, is almost certainly anticipating back pain. 
• When being ridden, poor performance, loss of movement, resistance, and behaviours such as ‘humping’, pigrooting, laying back the ears, etc, are further signs.
• Attempting to ‘ride the horse through’such resistances may lead to explosive behaviours like bucking and rearing as the horse attempts to rid itself of its perceived primary cause of discomfort – the rider.

Signs

• Horses with kissing spine pain tend to tighten and tense their backs under the weight of the rider. This results in a hard, stiff back that has little ability to side-bend.
• Thus performance deteriorates, and the horse feels uncomfortable to ride.
• Saddle fit is affected detrimentally, increasing the likelihood of back pain becoming worse.
• The pain from the kissing spinesis concentrated in the midline of the back, under the saddle, with the saddle seat area being most commonly affected.
• If the painful structures are jarred suddenly by a rider landing heavily on the horse’s back, or by the horse tripping, it may suddenly go into a fit of bucking or pigrooting.

Diagnosis

• Veterinary diagnosis of kissing spines generally starts with Palpation, followed by confirmation with a number of tests.
• Local anaesthetic is injected in between the tips of the vertebrae suspected of painfully kissing, to see if the signs of soreness are eliminated by this test.
• Diagnostic imaging including radiography, thermography, diagnostic ultrasound and bone scans may also be used to confirm the diagnosis, especially where surgical treatment is being contemplated.

Treatment

• Pain from kissing spines can be alleviated by rest, and very prolonged periods of rest may see the problem resolve.
• Ridden exercise of affected horses coming back into work after a period of rest is quite risky, as the dropping of the rest-weakened back merely encourages the problem to return.”
• In conventional veterinary practice, surgery, in combination with physiotherapy based on massage and exercises is often considered the ultimate solution.
• Basically, the bony tip of every second vertebra of the affected area is surgically resected.
• When done in specialised equine surgical facilities, the complication rate of this surgery is low. Once operated on, horses are put on a course of anti-inflammatory drugs and spelled.
• However surgery is expensive, and generally reserved for top competition horses that are young enough to justify the expense and time out of work.
• The kissing spine pain of some horses settles reasonably well with a more conservative veterinary approach of cortisone injections into the spine, instead of surgery.
• Expert attention to saddle is also particularly important in both approaches.
• The cortisone has to be injected under sterile conditions and even then can result in nasty back infections in a small number of cases.
• For the more affected horses, many simply end up prematurely retired. This is why a diagnosis of kissing spines often means the end of a horse’s career.
• Many equine spinal therapists treat kissing spines quite successfully by tending to the underlying postural causes.
• Ian’s approach has concentrated on treating spinal pain with a combination of veterinary chiropractic, acupuncture, correction of saddle fi attention to hoof and mouth soreness, and exercises to improve posture.

Reference
http://www.spinalvet.com.au/downloads/kissing-spines.pdf

THROUGHPIN

• Thoroughpin is a soft,fluid filled swelling at the back of the hock.It is located in the groove in front of the Achilles tendon,just above point of hock.
• It is described as tenosynovitis of deep flexor tendon sheath.
• The swelling , usually about the size of hen's egg.
• This swelling is caused by fluid accumulation in the tendon sheath that surrounds the deep digital flexor tendon as it runs over the back of the hock.
• Throughpin is usually the result of tendon sheath strain.
• Young horses usuallyaffected.
• It may be caused by paim of deep flexor tendon within the sheath.
• In most cases it does not cause lameness.

Treatment

• Draining the fluid and injecting the corticortsteroids into the sheath may effective if performed within a few days of swelling.
• cold hosing and anti inflamatory can be given in initial stages
• It is impossible to apply pressure to the sheath.
• A firm bandage over Achilles  tendons

Reference

Lameness

Equine Research

Christine King and Richard Mansmann

Manual of Equine practice by Reuben J Rose and David R Hodgson

SADDLE SORES

• Saddle sores are caused by friction between the horse and the saddle or harness. 
• In some cases friction as the result of faulty conformation of the horse.
• If the wither is too low, for instance, the saddle may sit too far forward.
• If they are too high,the withers may be compressed by the saddle.
• An narrow chest can make it difficult to cinch the saddle tightly. 
• A thin horse has poor padding between itself and the saddle,making it a likely candidate for sores

Signs

• Sores affecting only the skin are characterized by inflammation;
• Redness;
• The presence of bumps,
• Cysts, or blisters;
• and finally skin tissue death
• The necrosed tissue commonly called “Sitfast”
• Inflammation of the hair follicles;
• The follicles may become filled with pus.
• Affected areas show hair loss and are swollen, warm, and painful.
• The pus dries and forms crusts.
• Severe damage to the skin and deeper tissues results in skin death
• If the sores are not treated (and the cause corrected), deep abscesses, scarring, and localized loss of feeling may occur.

Treatment

• If hematomas present surgery is required to correct the conditions
• An ice pack should be applied for 10-15 minutes to any swelling that develops under the skin after a ride
• Do not massage or rub the area with liniments as this can worsen the blood and fluid leakage under the skin
• Antibiotics may be given to control further infections
• During the early or acute stages, astringent packs are often prescribed.
• Absolute rest of the affected parts is necessary.
• Wounds and inflammation of the skin of the saddle and harness regions are treated as any other skin wounds

References

Horses veterinary Encyclopedia by Cheryl Rogers and G. Jeanne Wilcox

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/pethealth/horse_disorders_and_diseases/skin_disorders_of_horses/saddle_sores_collar_galls_in_horses.html

PHYSITIS

Physitis is a common condition in rapidly growing horses.It causes painful swelling of the physes, or growth plates, just above the knees, hocks, or fetlocks.It can be a component of osteochondrosis

Causes

• malnutrition,
• conformational defects, 
• faulty hoof growth, 
• excessive exercise, 
• obesity, and toxicosis
• Nutritional factors play a key role.
• Physitis is most common in large, rapidly growing foals.
• stud farms where the calcium:phosphorus ratio in the diet is imbalanced.
• These foals are fed more carbohydrate than they need.
• Physitis most commonly involves the distal extremities of the radius, tibia, third metacarpal or metatarsal bone, and the proximal aspect of the first phalanx. 
• overload of the physeal area due to excessive loading or weakened bone and/or cartilage

First, high carbohydrate diets suppress thyroid hormone production, which, limits nutrients supply to cartilage cells.

Second increase body weight is to early to accommodate.

When the demands on the growth cartilage exceed its ability to produce new bone, problems develop.

Signs

Swelling of the affected physes.
This swelling is firm, warm, and painful.
One side of physics is more  swollen than other.
The condition is usually bilateral.
Foals and young horses with physitis may be stiff-gaited or lame.

Treatment

Treatment consists of reducing food intake to reduce body weight or at least growth rate; confining exercise to a yard or a large, well-ventilated loose box with a soft surface

The calcium:phosphorus ratio should be adjusted to 1.6:1, and protein content limited to <10% of dry matter. 

In general terms, bran should not be fed, and dicalcium phosphate or bone flour (10–30 g daily) should be added to the diet. 

Limiting the young horse's activity to daily short periods of voluntary exercise.
Complete restriction may result in flexural limb deformities, so some forms of light exercise should be encouraged each day.

The diet should be examined and any imbalances corrected.

In particular, the amount of carbohydrate should be reduced to a maintanence level.
NSAIDs should be given to reduce pain.

References

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/musculoskeletal_system/lameness_in_horses/physitis_in_horses.html

Lameness
Equine Research by Christine King and Richard Mansmann

ULCERATIVE LYMPHANGITIS

• Ulcerative lymphangitis is inflammation of the lymphatic vessels, usually as a result of bacterial invasion.
• In most cases the bacteria enter the lymphatic vessels through a wound on the lower leg.
• This condition is more likely when the normal lymphatic flow is slowed by inactivity or obstructed by injury.
• The inflammation results from bacterial infection further obstructs lymphatic flow.
• This process may obstruct the vein which causes further leakage of fluids into the tissues.
• As the result the leg become swollen ,which is why the common name "big leg".
• If the immune system cannot control the infection the abcess break open in several places and giving the ulcerative conditions.

Treatment

• Often the invading bacteria is staphylococcus aureus .
• This organism is difficult to kill because it has become resistant to most antibiotics
• Bacterial culture and Antibiotic sensitivity testing is important to identity which organism is causing inflections.
• Oral antibiotics, poulticing and physical therapy help to resolve the infection.
• NSAIDs are commonly given to reduce the inflammation and pain .

Reference

Lameness

Equine Research

Christine King and Richard Mansmann

PREVENTION OF TENDINITIS

• Regular trimming and shoeing by an experienced farrier so that a normal hoof pastern angle is maintained and the heels are always well supported.
• Using exercise bandages that restrict fetlock overextension.
• Always warm up before giving any work.
• Correct conditioning-with a base of long,slow distance work and a fitness shedule that is not increased too rapidly.
• Walk the horse 10 to 15 minutes before giving work.
• Feeling the tendons for swelling,pain,or heat before and after each training session or competition.
• Suspending training at the first sign of swelling ,pain,or heat in a tendon.
• Ensuring that slow,distance work is the basis of the horse training schedule,no matter what the sport or activity.

Reference

Lameness

Equine Research by Christine King and Richard Mansmann

BURSITIS

• Bursitis is defined as an inflammatory reaction within a bursa. This can range from mild inflammation to septic bursitis.It is most common and important in the horse.
• A bursa is present on a limb or at specific areas of the body that generally have limited movement but with pressure against a portion of bone, tendon or ligament. A bursa can also be found in areas to facilitate the gliding action of a tendon.
• True or natural bursae are located in a predictable position and examples include: navicular bursa prepatellar bursa, cunean bursa, bicipital bursa, trochanteric bursa and the subtendinous bursa of the common calcaneal tendon.
• Acquired bursa develop subcutaneously in response to pressure and friction. Tearing of the subcutaneous tissue allows fluid to accumulate and become encapsulated by fibrous tissue. These include: olecranon bursa (capped elbow), subcutaneous calcaneal bursa (capped hock) and carpal hygroma.
• Bursa may communicate with a joint or tendon sheath and may become clinically apparent because effusion from the joint or sheath cases filling of the bursa.
• True bursitis involves a natural bursa and is caused by direct trauma or associated with the stress of racing or performance. This form of bursitis is called traumatic bursitis.
• Acquired bursitis is either the development of a subcutaneous bursa or inflammation of that bursa.
• If a bursa becomes infected, septic bursitis occurs and this is commonly following a puncture wound.

Signs

Bicipital, trochanteric and cunean bursitis are characterised by lameness. 
Pain can be elicited through palpation in bicipital and trochanteric bursitis, but cunean bursitis needs local blocking to define.

Acquired bursae do not usually lead to lameness and are characterised by a local, fluctuant swelling in the region. 
With chronicity they become firm and can cause mechanical limitation to flexion of the corresponding joint.

Septic bursitis, such as septic navicular bursitis is characterised by severe lameness and the recognition of foreign body penetration.

Treatment

The treatment methods vary considerably depending on the bursa.

Rest is the method of choice for bicipital bursitis. 
Cold applications can be used in all cases in the early acute stages.

For cunean tendon bursitis, options include cunean tenectomy, rest, local anti-inflammatory injections or phenylbutazone.

Acquired bursae of the elbow, hock or carpus should firstly be treated by preventing further trauma to the region. Local corticosteroid injections and pressure bandaging have been used in the past.

The contents of the bursa can be aspirated, or drains implanted.

For more chronic cases, surgical removal and primary closure is the treatment of choice. If immobilisation of the region can be performed, results can be good.

In septic bursitis, treatment requires systemic antibiotics as well as local drainage. The prognosis for complete recovery is guarded.

References

Kahn, C. (2005) Merck Veterinary Manual Merck and Co

Stashak, T. (1996) Practical guide to lameness in horses Wiley-Blackwell

McKinnon, A. (1998) Equine diagnostic ultrasonography Wiley-Blackwell